There
are places online where you can purchase
kits that contain all the materials you need
to make your own Latex monster masks.
I'm sure these are fine products, and if
you've never done this before there's
nothing wrong with going that route.
However, if you don't mind doing a little
scrounging, and if you trust your own
creativity, then you can make three to five
latex masks for around $50.

By
the way, this project isn't intended to make
masks that can be worn. Instead, stuff
them with newspaper or expanding foam and mount
to props.

A
face only a 'weener' could love

Materials
list

Styrofoam
head

Available
in novelty, hobby, and art stores

Plastiline
clay (Plastilina)

Available
in hobby and art stores (oil-based & doesn't dry out)

Plaster
of Paris

Available
at Home Depot and hobby stores

Liquid
latex

Available
at hobby stores and online (1 quart)

Paints

I
used plain old Testor model paints & brushes
(airbrush optional)

Theory

Making
your own monster mask is a very rewarding
experience. The girls will think you're all
sensitive when they learn that you're
"sculpting" and learning how to make
your own molds. That is, until they see the
vile creature you're actually sculpting.

The entire
mask making process can be broken down into the
following steps: Sculpting, molding,
casting, and painting. There is a fair
amount of work involved and you will need patience
(especially when you destroy your first mold
trying to de-mold it and have to
chuck the whole thing into the trash).

Don't be
afraid of failure. Especially since clay and
plaster are really *cheap*. Luckily, the
hardest part of the project involves the cheapest
materials. By the time you start working
with the expensive stuff (Latex), you'll already
have your mold ready.

Sculpting

This
isn't really a sculpting primer. If
you've never sculpted before but you aren't
afraid to jump right in then you should be
able to follow along. If you'd like
more information about the how's, and why's
and where-fors before sinking your fingers
into some clay, then click
here.

Click pix to zoom in

Plastiline
(Plastilina) clay won't dry out. You
can work it and reuse it indefinitely.
Start your project by covering your
styrofoam head (or whatever armature you're
using) with clay. Knead handfuls of
clay and mash them flat, then just squish
them in sections all over your head (the
styrofoam head, that is). Your goal is
to cover the surface with somewhere between
1/8" to 1/4" of clay.

I only
covered the front half of the head and I
recommend that you do the same for this
project. We're only making a
single-part mold (just the face), so don't
go back any further than the ears.

Grrr

My
first feeble attempt at sculpting was
the "green goblin" shown
below. He didn't make it past
the mold stage and got chucked into
the trash. I changed clays (to
Plastilina from stinky sulphur) and
started over from scratch, taking time
to pay closer attention to how the
face is built.

Use
a mirror to get ideas about where
things belong on your face.
Don't bother measuring anything unless
OCD compels you, and if you can't
figure out how to do a particular bit,
just have fun and make something
up. If your neighbors don't
already think you're crazy, sit in
front of a mirror in your garage and
sneer at yourself for a day or two.